Rock-gathering machine.



G. C. MOORE.

ROCK GATHERING MAGHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1009.

Patented July 19, 1910.

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G. C. MOORE.

ROCK GATHERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1909.

CHAKLIIS C. MOORE, OF OABTHAGE, MISSOURI.

BOOK-GATHERING MACHINE.

I Specification of Letters Iatent. Application. new September 1, 1909. Serial No. 515,610.

Patented July 19, 1910.

To all when it my comm:

Beit known that I, Cannes C. Moore, a citizen of the United States, residin at (larthuge, in the county of Jasper and tate of Misouri, have invented new and useful lmprovanents in Rock-Gatherin Machines, of which the following is a spec cation.

This ilveutien relates to machines for gathe rocks and stones from the surface of the soil. for the p ground: in better conditlon for cultivation; and it has particular reference to that class oi rock gathering machines which are adapted to beconnected with a wagon, the box of which will constitute a receptacle wherein the stones and rocks may be delivered! by the elevating mechanism which constitutes a portion or the machine.

a machine of the class described in which thegathering of thestones and rocks will be accomplished by a plurality of reciprocatory arms havin terminal gathering devices which will ternately engage the soil, gathering therefrom not only the rocks and stones that may rest ipon the surface but also such as may be embedded or partly embedded in. the soil near the surface of the latter.

A :Eurther object of the invention is to provide an inclined plane over which the rocks and stones may be conveyed to the elevating mechanism, said inclined plane being composed of a plurality of arms or members that are connected hingedly with the elevating mechanism in such av manner that, in case of their becoming entangled with the scrapers, they will be lifted orswung upon thelr pivots without injury to the parts of the machine.

Further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction and operation of the class of devices to. which the invention ap ertains.

With these an other ends in view which will readily appear as the natureof the invention is better understood the same consists in the improved construction: and novel arrangement and: combination of parts, which. will be hereinafter fully described and; particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings has been illustrated a simple-and preferred form of the invention; itbeingf however, understood. that no limitatibn is necessarily made tothe precise structural details therein exhibitedg'but that of placing; the

hingedly supports form an inclined plane overwhich rocks;

i changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention may be resorted to, when desired.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

- Corresponding arts in the several views are indicated by h e characters of reterence.

The improved rock gathering machine comprises in its construction an axle 5- supported upon transporting wheels 6- and havin a forwardly extending tongue 7. The ax e supports an upright A having a rearwardly extending frame B and a forwardly extendin frame C, each of said frames be f ing rein orced-by braces as will be seen at 8 in Fig. 1 of the drawings. One object of the invention is to provide The rearwardly extending frame B is provided adjacent to the ends thereof with shafts carrying rollers 9 upon which an endless carrier 10 is supported. The frame C is likewise provided with rollers 11 that serve to support an endless carrier 12, one of said rollers being mounted directly upon the axle 5 and the other upon a shaft 11 which the out end of the frame. The carriers 10 and 12 are each composed of a plurality of I suitably connected slats 13 having outwardly extending prongs 14 that will serve to engage the material that is to be conveyed over the elevators and toprevent such material from slipping.

The frame structure of the machine is provided at the sides thereof with upstanding brackets 15 provided adjacent totheir upper ends with bearings for a transversely disposed shaft 16 which receives motion I from one or both of'the transporting wheels .6 through the medium of a flexible element or elements such as chains 17. Motion is transmitted from the-shaft 16 to the shaft 9 at the forward end of theelevator 10 which is thus driven. The elevator 12 is driven directly from the axle 5- as will be readily understood.

The frame B which is downwardly andrearwardly inclined as clearly shown in Fig.

-1 is provided adjacent to its rear end with stones other material may be guided onto the. carrier- 10; The shaft 16 is prois sufpported in suitable bearings adjacent to rided with a plurality of cranks 21 radiating in various directions from said shaft, eaeh. of said cranks carrying an arm 22 hich is pivotally connected therewith. Each of the arms 22 is provided adjacent to its free end with a sleeve 23 adapted to be secured in any position to which it may be adjusted upon the arm by means of a set screw 24, each of said sleeves being provided with a rearwardly extending stem or bracket 25 having a terminal scraper D composed of a plurality of downwardly extendlng curved or hook-shaped fingers 26 combining to form a claw which is adapted to engage the soil, to loosen rocks or stones that may be embedded or partly embedded therein as well as those resting upon the surface of the soil, and to convey such rocks or stones over the inclined plane formed by the arms 20 onto the carrier 10. Each of the arms 22 is provided upon its under side with a downwardly curved or arched strap 27 adapted to engage and ride upon a roller 28 supported for rotation upon a shaft 29 that is supported in bearings adjacent to the upper end of brackets 30 rising from the sides of the frame structure of the machine.

An auxiliary frame E is hingedly mounted upon a shaft 31 supported in suitable bearings adjacent to the forward end of the frame'C, saidframe E being provided adjacent to its forward end with bearings wherein a shaft 32 is supported for rotation.

An endless carrier 33, the construction of' which resembles that of the carriers 10 and 12 is supported upon the shafts 31-32, the former of which is driven by an endless chain 34: from the shaft 11 supporting the forward end of the carrier 12. The frame E is provided with a downwardly extending arm or bracket 35 adapted to be adjustably connected with the tongue 7 as by means of a pin 36 engaging the tongue and extendin through one of a series of perforations 3% in the arm 35 by means of which the frame E may thus be tilted or adjusted to various positions for the purpose of vertically adjusting the discharge end of said frame. Hingedly connected with the frame E adjacent to the rear end of the latter is a suitably constructed discharge chute 38.

Suitably attached to the side members of the frame G are brackets 39 serving to support forwardly converging guides 40 whereby material passing over the carrier 12 will be directed toward the central portion of said carrier from which it will thus be dis charged upon the carrier 33 which is relatively narrow. The use of the guides or deflectors 4:0 enables the gathering portion of the machine to be made of relatively great width so as to take in a wide space or swath at each operation.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings hereto aneeaiia neared the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood. The machine may be connected for operation with the rear axle and the reach of an ordinary farm wagon, a portion of which has been shown at F, and whereby the gathering machine will be propelled over. the field. Motion is transmitted from the supporting or transporting wheels 6 to the several carriers as well as to the shaft 16 the cranks of which carry the scraper arms 22. The free ends of the latter will be vertically reci rocated by reason of the arched guide mem rs 27 engaging the roller 28 and it will be seen that as the claws or scrapers approach the rear limits of their movements t ey will descend, thus causing the claws to engage and to enter the surface of the soil. As the claws are propelled upwardly and forwardly, any rocks, stones or other obstruction encountered thereby will be carried over the inclined plane composed of the arms 20 and deposited upon the lower end of the carrier 10. If one or more arms 20 should be engaged by or become entan led with any of the claws or scrapers, it wi simply swing in an u ward direction until disenga ed from the c aw by the elevation of the atter resulting from the engagement of the arched strip or uide member 27 with the roller 28, after which the arm or arms 20 will drop by gravity to their initial position. The rocks, stones and other obstructions will be conveyed by the carriers 10, 12 and 33 to the chute 38 over which the material will bedischarged into the box of the wagon with which the machine is connected.

Runners, shown at 41, may be used for the purpose of supporting the free or rear end of the frame B. This improved rock gathering machine is simple in construction and easily operated as well as being thoroughly eflicient for the purposes for which. it is provided.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is" 1. In a machine of the character described,.a frame structure supported upon an axle, a conveying device supported by said frame, and comprising a plurality of endless carriers, an inclined plane supported adjacent to the rear end of the frame structure and comprising a plurality of independently hinged arms, a crank shaft having a plurality of arms connected with the cranks, claws supported upon the extremities of the arms, arched guide members upon the under sides of the latter, a guide roller supporting the guide members, and means for driving the movable parts of the machine.

2. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor, an inclined plane connected therewith and comprising a plurality of independently hinged arms, and a longitudinally and vertically reci rocatory claws movable over the inclined p ane.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with reciprocatory gathering members of an inclined plane comprising a plurality of independently hinged arms, and a conveyer with which the inclined plane is connected.

4. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor, an inclined plane connected therewith, a shaft having a plurality of cranks, arms for said cranks, sleeves adjustable upon said arms and having brackets provlded with downturned fin ers constituting claws, arched guide mem ers 15 upon the under sides of the arms, and a guide roller supported below the arms and engaging the guide members.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES C. MOORE. Witnesses:

' B. F. HACKNEY, G. H. KINGSTON. 

